Hydroaeroplane



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699.99;

A. ROHRBACH HYDROAERUPLANE Filed April 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 vJan. 22, 1929.

1,699,991 A. ROHRBACH HYDROAEROPLANE Filed April 192? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ders,

ly-illustrated.

Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLF ROHRBAGH, '0! BEBLIN-WILMEBBDOBF, 9EBMANY.-

' HYDROAEROPLAN-E.

Application filed April 2, 1927, Serial No. 180,383, and in Germany April 8,1926.

The invention relates to hydroaeroplanes. In order to obtain increased controllahility of hydroaeroplanes taxying on. the water, it has been proposed to use water-rudwhich can be either permanently joined to thcvcrtical control surfaces of the plane, or controlled separately. One oh ection to the first mentioned permanent con nection of Water-rudderand vertical control surfaces-is that the pilot, with the rather high starting and landing speeds of the machme, isahle with difficulty to operate regulatin or operating device leading from the tootevers to the vertical control surfaces .(air rudder),.thc pilot to either control the Water-rudder together with the latio eral control air rudder surfaces or leave it at rest andseparated fronrthe latter. Preferably there is also provided a remote control means for the coupling between rcgulatingjor operating device 'for'the air rudder and the water rudder, so that the entire water-rudder controlling deviccscan be located inside the pilots cockpit.

1 Several embodiments of the subjectfmatter ofthe invention are shown, by way of example, on the accornpany:ng, drawings,

wherein: Figs. hull end of a flying boat, with plan view of air rudder and water-rudder arranged according to the invention diagrammatical- 'Figs. 3-,) show a specific form. of con struction and arrangement, in front view, side-elevation and plan View respectively. Figs. 6-7 are views-of anotherform of construction, in side elevation and front view: 1 Figs. EH) represent details, in two different views. j Figs. 1042 show three main views of an other form of construction.

coupling between the water-rudder and the the 1-2 represlent twh views of the Fig. 3.3" is a detail represented in side elevation and plan view.

Figs." 14-16 show three. main views of another form of construction.

Fig. l'l shows a detail, on'enlarged scale.

Fig. 18 is a plan view ot the controlling devices according to the form of oonstrluction shown in Figs. 1446.

- An'ir'nportant ieature of the-invention is that the water-rudder (1); of a seaplane the controlling and operatic device or" means for operating the vertica rudder (2),

if this secms preferable with the machine (Figs. 3., 9-) can be temporarily operated by taxying on 5 the water. For this purposev means are provided to ensure the possibil ity of readily enga ing and disengaging the water-rudder coup ing with the-regulating or oierati'ng device (3) leadingfrom' the pilots cockpit, (which does not appear on the drawing), to the vertical control surfaces or air rudder The couplin means ispreferably operated h special remote control (4). hese Figs. 1 and 2 show the invention more or less 'diagrann matically.

lstance 0r A. simple constructional form of the invention is shown in Figs. 3-5, wherein the Watcr-rudder is characterized as a special device to be suspended Outboards to the side of the craft' The rudderunit consists-of a frame (5) provided with hook and'handle,

dcr or board (6), which'in keel-she ed fixed plane.

(7 Wit 1 suspended rudder. (8) is attached to the trailing edge of the said false rudder. .The axle 7 extends to or above the level of the air rudder operating device 3; The uppractice forms a r per end of theaxle (7) is connected by .piv-

oting levers and connecting link tothe pivot- (9) this latter being operated b the regulating or operating device (3) throu h the slottedlever-pin mechanism indicate The joint of the lever-hinges and 'the'pivot (9) is easily detachable, asfor example by 'the he rndde'naxle the lower part of which ends in a false rudrectangular shaping of the pivot end, on which the corresponding-hinge-lever is simply slipped upon suspending; the; rudder unit."- 9. v

Thawater-rudder isI-used in such way,

that-in case-of emergency the frame (5) is ,hung by" means of its hooks into-the outhoardrings, thereby gearing the same to the" hinge and pivot (9). Pulling-the regu- :lating device (3) in the direction of, the

- proceeding on her Way through the air, the

. struction rudder unit can be detached and stowed away inside the craft. The pivot (9) is, in the latter case, running dead when the vertical control surfaces are alone. actioned operated.

Itis, for instance, possible to disengage the Water-rudder from the regulating device without detaching the former, by so arranging the pivot (9), that it can be axially shifted, and providing a connecting rope to the cockpit where the pilot, by simply pulling said rope, is in'a position to disengage regulating device (3) and rudder axle.

According to the second form of con- (Figs. 64)) a suspended rudder (-10) can, in case of non-use, be pulled up into a separate room or chamber (.11) of the aircraft, v side. The lower. tube-shaped part (12) of the bi-partite rudder carries the rudder proper and is'supported in two bearings, the one of which is arranged at the bottom and consists of two parallel parts or sectors with gaps of enough width to allowthe passing through of the rudder (10). The upper part of the tube (12) is interconnected with a rope pulley (4) leading to the pilots cockpit and includes an inner slotted socket" or sleeve (.14) (Fig. 9) whiohslot accommo dates the transverse coupling pin (15-) on upper part (16) of the rudder (10) is the lower end of the the rudder axle, when lowered: W'hen let supported by part 16 not be axially shifted being permanently connected with the regulating device- (3) through the levers 17. Part8 and lever 17 are coupled by sliding bolt and hole (18). If the pilot wants to use the rudder for proceeding on the water, he has to release the rope 4-, so that the weight of the rudder (10) pulls same out or" the chamber or pocket (11). The rudder is thus automatically coupled with axle part .(16) Whch is tinuallyoperated in unison with the vertical control surfaces, pin (15)"entering the slot of socket (14:). In order to take in the water rudder, the pilot has but to pull up the rudder into the chamber byineans of the rope (4), same actioncausing disengagement of the rudder. and the water rudder connected 'With' the vertical control surfaces 2 at zero position. v

The third form of construction according to Figs. 10-13 shows the water rudder (19) the same time,

slot of a lever (26) which is opentowards the water i axis down, the rudder is; and pin 15, which can The regulating devi cc '3 I are connected and -d1saccuser lower part (21) of a bi-partite axle, the

upper part (22) of which is arranged inside the tube-shaped part (21) and a cap (23), so as to be axially displaceable by a short distance. This displacement causes engagement or disengagement of the two axle parts provided with coiipling pin an slot. Axle part (22) is connected with the'pilots cockpithy means of rope. pulley (4), being, at under action-of a spring (24) arranged in the cover cap (23) and pushing in a direction to effect the coupling. (3)

15' the. regulating or operating device leadin to thevertical control surfaces, the cam bolt (25) of which slides in the longitudinal hinged to the upper rudder axle part (22). v

When the pilot releases the rope (4), the .axle part (22) is lowered under the action of the spring (24), so as to engage with the rudder (19). The hinged lever (26), guided by therpivot (25) is correspondingly. displaced. 3

By pulling the rope the Water rudder is again disengaged from the regulating dervice. (3). In order to retain the rudder, when not used, in the central position two springs (27) are provided inside, the boat hull, which fix the disengaged rudder in the zero position. Figs. 14-18 show a water rudder to be pivoted on a horizontal axis from the effective position into a separate, chamber 11) of the boat hull. This suspended rudder (28) is hinged to a false rudder (29.), which can be ivoted (30). .T e pivoting means," to I be actioned from thepilots seat, consist of a bevel gear (31), working a travelling nut (32), the latter being connected with the rudder unit (28, 29) by means of a connecting rod and a lever 33 rig-idly connected to thetrudder unit horizontal axle 30. The rudder unit being pulled into the chamber (11), the lever (33) moves from the dotted position into the position indicated by dots and lines. i

Said pivoting causes engagement or disengagement of a coupling pin rigidlyconnected with the axle of the rudder (28), and a. coupling fork (36) arranged at the lower part of an axle (37) supported inside the hull. Said axle (37) is designed to act as transmittingrnember, its upper end being coupled \vitha lever (39) attached to the regulating device (3), by means of toothed quadrants (38). As can be gathered from the'control system plan View (Fig. 18) pulling at the regulating device :3) causes uniform and corresponding movement of the water. rudder (28) and vertical rudder (2).

,Pushing action will,

about the horizontal 0,5 course, produce reversed conditions, with to automatically pull the ater rudder oil the water with the aircraft developing too much speed; This can be attained, with ,out any difficulty, with the arrangement represented in Figs. l i-l8, lo replacing the mechanical gear 31/32 by he indicated rope pulley (4t). Ii,'with this Water rudder, being held in the water by its own weight only and which can, if desired, he intentionally loaded, the moving force becomes so efficient, that its moment surpasses the force retaining the rudder in its moving positioin-therudder is automatical- 1y pivoted into the chamber and, at the same time, separated from the vertical control surfaces. i

The invention can he applied to sea-going aircraft of all types.

What I claim is:

1. In a hydroaeroplane the combination of independent air, and water steering. de

vices each of which is adapted to impart to the. craft lateral steering motions with means for readily connecting and disconnecting the water steering device w h and from the air steering device at'the t the operator.

2. In a hydroaeroplanc the combinationof'a vertical air rudder and means for operating. the same, with a Water rudder separate and distinct from the air rudder and a readily engageahle and disengageahle connection between the water rudder and the operating means for the air rudder.

3; In a hydroaeroplane of the character set'forth in claim 1 includinga remote eonio'ltrol device which operahly connected with the means for connecting and disconnecting the water rudder with the air rudder.

At. A hydroaeroplane of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the water steering device is disposed outboard.

5. In a hydroaeroplane the combination of a vertical tail plane, operating means for ,Said vertical tail plane, a water rudder separate and distinct from the vertical tail plane and arranged outboard, said Water rudder being attachably and detachably arranged with reference'to'the floating struc-' ture, and a readily detachable coupling means between the operating means for the ail plane and the water rudder for operatively connecting the Water rudder with the operating means at will.

6. A hydroaeroplane of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the water rudder is readilj suspendableou'tboard and consists of a supporting, frame "with hooks arranged at the supporting frame, apertures eorres po'ndin to the hooks being provided. on the vertica wall of the hull of the floating structure, the supporting frame having bearings for the water rudder and its axle, the rud (leis-axle passing throughto the height of the operating means for the tail plane and articulated levers provided between the. mid der axle and the operating means for the tail plane.

7. in a hyc'iroaeroplane the combination of we ieal air rudder or tail plane, means for operating said rudder, a Water rudder and distinct from the air rudder and being readily attachable and detachahle to the craft and suspendable outhoard, Water rudder bein balanced and necti operai including a false rudder forward thereof 8 In hydroaeropiane or the characterset forth in claim T wherein the axle of the Water rudder extende to the level of the operating means tor the air rudder, a lever at the upper end of the rudder rode, a hell crank lever pivot-ed or the hull structure, one of the cell connected te the lever oi rudder e means of an an ticula-ted rod and the other arm of the hell crank being connected the operating for the air rudder i a hydro ulane oi character setiortn in clenn Y wherein the rudder axle i'txc e i i we to LXUUK d5 t0 tilt, raver (he wifi operating means for the air rudder, lever carried lay the upper end of redder axle, journal on the hull near the. rudder axle, the journal being loosely connected. to'the operating means by a lever, upper end of the johnnal hei g erlge shaped, discng'ageahle lever having a socket corresponding to the ed shaped end of the jet: anal and adapted to he readil slipped over tl'ie latter, an articw lated'arin between the disengageahle lever and the lever the rudder axle the disengageahle heinq mountable and demountahle with rude er, I

10.111 hycnfoaeroplane, a water rudder Unit which is readily suspendablc outboard ncluding a iirarne in which the rudder is ournalled with .means thereon for ready suspension from the side out the floating structure, operating means for the rudder, and coupln" the operz mg means which are engagea ble 'apen suspensien of the rudder unit to side of heating structure.

11. in a hydroaeroplane, a Water rudder unit which is ream .y s ispendahle therefrom including a frame in which the rudder is journalled, operating means for the rudder, and coupling devices between the rudder and the operating mea re which. areengageable upon suspension of rudder unit;

12. In a hydroaereplane the comhination oi an air rudder and a Water rudder with means and cornieotione for reaclil T either op" erating them simultaneously an in imison,

9; devices between the rudder and x or disconnecting and rendering the Water rudder inoperative and operatin the air rudder alone while the Water rudder is totally disconnected therefrom.

13. In a hydroaeroplane, an air rudder, a

water rudder, a coupling means betweenthe water rudder and the air'rudder Whichis operable by axialm'ovement of the rudder axle, and means-for operating aid rudders.

14. In a control for hydroaeroplane of the character set forth in claim 1 wherein the Water steering device is .detachably' connected with the control elements running itrom the pilots cockpit/to the air rudder.-

15. In a control mechanism of thecharacter set forth in claim 2, wherein the op erating means forthe air rudder includes a remote control leading to the pilots cockpit,

the water'rudder being detachably connected v with said remote control;

16. In a control mechanism 0a the character set forth in claim 12 wherein the op nected with said remote control devices.

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy.

name to this specification.

NADOLF ROHRBACH, 

